Over North Korea's failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite, the government believes that a possible ballistic missile could be launched again in the near future.
In addition to maintaining the interception posture of the Self-Defense Forces, we will strengthen surveillance and surveillance in cooperation with the United States and the Republic of Korea.
North Korea announced on March 31 that it launched its first military reconnaissance satellite, the Maruri-gyeong-1, from the Seohae Satellite Launch Site in Dongchang-ri in the northwestern part of the country with a new rocket, the Chollima Type 1, but lost thrust due to an abnormality in the newly introduced second-stage engine and crashed into the Yellow Sea on the west side of the Korean Peninsula.
Since North Korea has stated that it will launch a second launch as soon as possible, it is possible that a possible ballistic missile may be launched again within the period until the 2th of this month, when the launch has been reported.
For this reason, we will maintain an interception posture with the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis ships deployed in the East China Sea and the ground-based interceptor missile "PAC2" deployed in Okinawa Prefecture.
In addition, Defense Minister Hamada will meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin, who is visiting Japan, on January 11 to discuss how to respond to North Korea, and the three countries, including South Korea, will work together to strengthen surveillance and surveillance in preparation for another launch.
North Korea's Second Launch Timing, Carefully Assessed
The possession of military reconnaissance satellites is an important goal included in the Five-Year National Defense Plan, and North Korea's National Space Development Administration has indicated that it will resume launches as soon as possible.
However, prior to this, it is necessary to specifically elucidate "serious defects", take scientific and technological measures, and go through various tests.
It was the first time since April 5 that North Korea admitted the failure of a satellite launch, and eight months later it announced that it had launched again and was successful.
North Korea's leadership is expected to carefully assess the timing of the second launch to ensure that military reconnaissance satellites, which they say are essential for tracking and monitoring U.S. and other military actions in real time, are in orbit around Earth.